In this episode, Stephanie prays a blessing over your summer. This is for the mamas with toddlers and the mamas with teens! Listen with your kids or alone, but give us a moment to bless your sunny season! And don't forget to listen to...

Episode 7: Untangling Our Commitment to the Word

for incredibly practical tips to prioritize Scripture... even when the kids are swarming around you!

They're the joyful agains our children shout on the swings, the

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exhausting agains of cooking and laundry,

and the difficult agains of discipline.

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So much of what we do

as mothers is on repeat.

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So what if we woke up with clarity,

knowing which agains we were called

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to, and went to bed believing we

are faithful in what matters most?

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We believe God's Word is

the key to untangle from the

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confusion and overwhelm we feel.

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Let's look up together to embrace a

motherhood full of freedom and joy.

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Stephanie: Welcome to the again, podcast.

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I'm your host, Stephanie Hickox.

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And this is brought to you

by entrusted ministries.

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As delightful as summer is it opens up

a world of potential and possibilities.

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I would love to cover you and

your children with prayer.

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So that you may enter this season,

joyfully and intentionally.

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Before I get to that prayer.

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I want to take a moment to encourage you.

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About what to make a

priority to this summer.

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We all know that before we

know it, our calendar pages

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are going to turn to August.

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Or even September.

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And it will feel that the summer flew by.

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And hopefully we'll have plenty

of memories to look back at.

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That we've created with our children.

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But I want to encourage you.

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To take this opportunity.

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At, as your routine is going

to change that you make.

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It a habit and a commitment.

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To spend time in the word episode

seven, untangling our commitment

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to the word, practical ways to

prioritize time with the Lord.

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Jenna.

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And I talked about just how we made

our time in the word of priority.

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Having young children.

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even if you have children, Swarming around

you, you can make time to be in the word.

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I think this was one of our most

practical episodes, so I really

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encourage you to look back at that.

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James clear the best-selling author of.

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Atomic habits.

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Says that to create a habit.

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We need to define when we will do it.

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And where we will do it.

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And we also need to say the

identity that's tied to it.

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For example, instead of saying this

summer, I plan to read my Bible every day.

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You would say this summer?

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I will open my Bible.

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Every day at 7:00 AM.

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In my favorite chair.

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So that I can become a person

that knows and loves God deeper.

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That might look absolutely

different for you.

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It might mean opening up the word.

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At the breakfast table with

your children every day.

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But setting a time and a location.

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assigning an identity.

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And a reason for why you want

to accomplish that habit will

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make it so much more likely.

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To have been achieved.

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So I encourage you, whatever

your summer bucket list may be.

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That being in God's word

would be at the top of it.

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And we would love to help equip

you for being in the word.

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We have a curriculum entitled.

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Get the word out that Betsy and

David Corning have been developing

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for over 20 years through

their own personal devotions.

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And we are getting ready

to launch that shortly.

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Betsy, and I are in the process

of recording some episodes

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to explain just how fruitful.

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These Bible study tools

can be in your own life.

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So stay tuned for that.

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All right, let's get to that prayer.

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Heavenly father.

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We humbly come before you.

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And ask for peace and joy to

reign in our homes this summer.

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May the sound of laughter and

praise characterize our days

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and let it begin with us.

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May we embrace duties with diligence

and model for our children that our

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blessings, are gifts to be stewarded,

not annoyances to attend to.

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May we train our children in holy

habits that will bless their futures.

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But never value the task over the child.

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May we be salt and light.

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But protect us from harmful encounters.

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When difficult topics

need to be addressed.

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Give us your words.

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So that we may highlight the

goodness of your commands.

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Open doors and open hearts so

that eternities would be changed.

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Allow us to be part of

connecting the loss to you.

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Oh, savior.

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May the sunshine be a reminder To bask

in your goodness and embrace your rest.

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Help us to also train our children

to love you with all their strength.

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And model for them to get up and move.

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Help our times of work to be

diligent, any efficient that we may

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be fully present with our children.

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May we know and understand that

our presence is one of the greatest

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gifts we can give our children

and not rush to substitute it with

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experiences and extravagances.

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When blessings do come, may we

give you all the glory and may

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it inspire us to give generously.

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Give us eyes to see who we

should serve and hands that

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rush to write words of gratitude.

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And lips that quickly speak

words of encouragement.

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May we faithfully point our children

to your redemption and goodness,

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without picking up the weight of

their salvation and sanctification.

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Please protect us from accidents

and injuries and pestilence.

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But when we encounter difficulties,

may we feel you at our side.

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Give us wisdom to know when to seek

additional help and when to be patient

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with the wisdom you've already provided.

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And when suffering and trials occur.

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Help us to see our goodness in them,

training our minds, that in all things

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you are working to make those who

are yours into the image of your son.

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When we are overwhelmed, help us to

run to your word and not to the world.

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Give us insight to know which

solutions to seek first and which

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should be tackled another time.

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When we need to press in for

practical wisdom, help us to lay

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down comparison, perfectionism,

shame, despair and discouragement.

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Guide us to systems that are maintainable

and bring order in our homes , but

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let us never forget that the only

true peace is found in your presence.

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When we need to course

correct or set a new standard.

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Help us to do so with

kindness and humility.

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So that our children are more

apt to adapt to a better way.

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When we are tired, teach us to

lessen our lists and order our

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days with hearts of wisdom.

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Help us to let go when it is wise

and give us strength to persevere

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when you are calling us to press on.

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May we set wise boundaries for ourselves.

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Make us aware of what produces

anxiety, fear and overwhelm in us.

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And provide us with the courage

to lessen those influences.

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When we feel lonely, teach us to run

to you and not take it lightly that

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you have called us your friends.

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Still teach us to diligently

seek fellowship with your people.

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May every perfectly right Berry or evenly

roasted marshmallow, we bite into lead

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us to praise you oh, perfect father.

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And delight in the simple gifts

you give your children every day.

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Teach us to diligently plan and

prepare; but let us hold our plans

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loosely when the unexpected occurs.

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Teach us to embrace your

agenda over our own.

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Do not allow us to ignore the

sandpaper sound of sibling disputes.

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But help us to see these

instances as opportunities to

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teach abiding relational lessons.

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Guide us to know when we are needed

and when to allow our children to

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arrive at solutions independently.

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May we motivate them joyfully but never

robbed them of doing the right thing for

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the right reason, which is to please you.

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Oh Lord.

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Help us train our children and

make them aware of the majesty,

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power, and danger of water.

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While also helping them delight

in its joys and possibilities.

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Allow us to guide our children

and purity and righteousness.

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Teach us the battles to fight for

their goodness and your glory.

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Yet, guide us to increase their freedom

in an age appropriate manner that prepares

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them to serve you on their own someday.

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May your word and your voice be the voice

we cling to most and would we increasingly

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live in the freedom you purchased for us.

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Then, and only then will we

be the mothers we long to be.

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And even when we have been patient,

kind, and loving h elp us to delight

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that we pale in comparison to

our perfect heavenly father.

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In the mighty matchless name

of Jesus Christ we pray.

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Amen.